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News

D.C. taxis charge extra

By Kate Oczypok | September 15

The D.C. Taxicab Commission voted Saturday to charge an extra $1.50 on taxi rides in the district. "We felt like we needed to help the drivers meet the costs of operation," said Causton Toney, the commission's interim chairman, in a washingtonpost.com article.

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Kerwin stays silent on Ladner, discusses academics

By Mary Specht | September 15

Acting President Neil Kerwin said he would not comment on the investigation into President Benjamin Ladner's spending at a forum yesterday, but he did discuss changes in the academic calendar, recent criticism of the library and other issues. Among a number of possible schedules, the most promising is one created by Student Government President Kyle Taylor under which students would get one day off for fall break and get two extra days of winter break.

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Course credit offered for serving on Conduct Council

By Mary Specht | September 15

This semester students can get course credit for serving on the Conduct Council, the group that determines guilt and punishment for breaking campus rules, in an effort to encourage more students to serve on the body. Offering credit will entice more students to serve on the council, adding crucial student perspective to the body's verdicts, according to Ben Turner, director of the Student Advocacy Center.

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Eagle receives anonymous Ladner letter

September 15

Posted Sept. 16 at 3:30 p.m. The following is the complete text of one of the anonymous letters received by members of the Board of Trustees, Student Government and the Washington Post. An AU source, who chose not to be identified due to the source's proximity to the investigation, confirmed the letter. Original capitalization and punctuation have been maintained. Dear Sir, Dr. Ben Ladner, President of American University, is under investigation by the Board of Trustees of the University for SEVERE expense account violations. ...

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Ladner's personal chef laid off

September 15

Posted Sept. 16 at 1:43 a.m. President Benjamin Ladner's personal chef, whose salary was paid by the university, was laid off Thursday amidst the board's investigation of Ladner's spending, according to the Washington Post. Sally Ekfelt, the secretary who coordinated the Ladner's social schedule, has also been transferred to the president's office to serve as an assistant to David Taylor, Ladner's chief of staff.

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Campus briefs: WAMU to broadcast Roberts hearings

By Mary Specht | September 12

WAMU will broadcast complete coverage of John Robert's Supreme Court confirmation hearings with HD Radio, making the station one of the first in the country to use the technology. HD Radio allows a station to broadcast multiple programs on one frequency and enhances audio quality.

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Police blotter

By Josh Goodman | September 12

Monday, Sept. 5 A student in Letts Hall reported that two individuals urinated on her door. Public Safety canvassed the area, and made contact with one of the individuals. He was barred from campus property. An AU student reported a hit and run on the Hamilton Roadway.

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Donations unaffected by Ladner leave, probe

September 12

The investigation into President Benjamin Ladner's spending of school money won't dent fundraising, according to AU officials and donors, but some think the probe raises questions about how money is managed elsewhere in the university. "There's no question the leadership of the institution is important in fundraising, but they're only a conduit for the institution they represent," said Al Checcio, vice president of University Relations.

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D.C. march remembers 9/11 events

By KATE SULLIVAN | September 12

Thousands of people marched from the Pentagon to the National Mall Sunday morning in the America Supports You Freedom Walk to commemorate the events of Sept. 11 and to pay tribute to servicemen and women. The Freedom Walk was sponsored by the Department of Defense as part of its nationwide program called America Supports You, which, according to its Web site, recognizes citizens' support for the military and communicates that support to members of the Armed Forces.

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Hurricane victims arrive at Armory

By Kate Naeef | September 12

Darrell Holleman, formerly of New Orleans, sat on the steps of the D.C. Armory last Wednesday smoking a cigarette. He had a backpack, a few science fiction books to pass the time and the clothes on his back. He also held a bus ticket that was going to take him to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to his dad and brother, and hopefully to a job and a new life.

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Congress pushes increase in collegiate academic integrity

By Rebecca Shillenn | September 12

Measures to protect intellectual and political diversity on university campuses have increased in the Senate after the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, said a National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities spokesman. The Senate committee has improved the bill by removing controversial issues, like references to grading and evaluation of students' work and intellectual pluralism, said spokesman Tony Pals.

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Campus briefs: AU students begin taking classes in Nigeria

By Mary Specht | September 12

The first students at the ABTI-American University of Nigeria will begin taking classes today in Yola, Nigeria. The inaugural class includes 150 students from Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana and other West African countries as well as Zambia and the United States.

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AU Abroad increases enrollment

By Mary Specht and Kate Ocztpok | September 12

The number of students studying abroad at AU increased by more than one third since last fall and the number of locations has doubled since 2003, according to the Office of International Affairs' annual report. Robert Pastor, vice president of International Affairs, said he has focused on enhancing AU Abroad "because most students will say that one of the most important experiences, if not the most important in their undergraduate life, was the opportunity to study abroad.

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Campus calendar

By Lauren Gardner | September 12

Monday, Sept. 12- Saturday, Sept. 24 Kennedy Center Prelude Festival John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts 2700 F St. NW, Foggy Bottom Metro $15 - $35 (202) 467-4600 See the best of Washington's performing arts before the season begins. Monday, Sept.

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Only some students misplaced by storm receive aid

By Kelly Kerr | September 12

A series of new regulations regarding college students affected by Hurricane Katrina were put into place last week by the Department of Education, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. The rules currently in place would make affected students ineligible for federal student financial aid when they enrolled in new institutions.

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Lawyer keeps students in the know about rights

By KATE SULLIVAN | September 12

College students have a new resource when it comes to learning about the law and their rights. C.L. Lindsay III, also known as the "Keg Lawyer," published a book in August 2005 that instructs students on how to declare their rights in the situations they encounter in college.

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Police Blotter

By Josh Goodman | September 8

Wednesday Aug. 31 An AU student reported that his wallet was stolen after he left it unattended at a restaurant off campus. An informational report was taken. An AU staff member reported that she lost the "sub-master" key, which opens a departmental office, while attending a cookout on campus.

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